Prozak :: Tales From the Sick

Ignorance is bliss. The convenient excuse sometimes holds true in ways one would have never imagined. If I had bothered to pay closer attention to the members of Project Deadman when Flash reviewed their album, “Self Inflicted,” I might not have picked up Prozak’s latest CD. Flash actually gave the group a favorable review, but unless it’s one of my favorite rappers, I usually am not eager to give a 6.5 rated album a chance. Thankfully I managed to remember the name “Project Deadman” and forget the names “Prozak and Mike E. Clark” when I picked up “Tales From The Sick.” Figuring Prozak was the latest young and hungry emcee signed by Tech N9ne I eagerly prepared myself for the feature film that was figuratively implied by the album’s artwork. Before beginning the “You Need To Listen To Prozak!” campaign, I decided to do a little research just in case someone tried to play smart and actually ask questions. Turns out the joke was on me as I was the one late on Prozak. After re-reading the Project Deadman review I realized that Flash already predicted the potential dopeness that Mike E. Clark and Prozak were capable of producing. “Tales From The Sick” is the realization of that potential.

What’s so dope about Prozak? Every song on his latest album! Seriously, the man has turned in quite an effort on “Tales From The Sick.” Technically some might classify Prozak as a horror core rapper, but the man is much more diverse than given credit for. He is the combination of the social conscience of Immortal Technique, wicked mind of Ganksta Nip, and hook-writing ability of Tech N9ne. Likely Tech N9ne did play a role in the dopeness of the CD, but it is Prozak’s lyrics and voice that carries this album. He flawlessly weaves through a dark, but political, world of despair, hope, love, hate, consciousness, and insanity. If these extremes sound outlandish and exaggerated you just need to take a short ride through some of these sick tales. On “Go To Hell” he sends a big middle finger to those he dislikes and declares his love for the dark:

“Since I was born I was obsessed with the dead Homicidal thoughts while I was being breastfed I tried to kill myself but I survived instead From pieces of a broken mirror sliced my wrist and bled”

Yet, on “Good Enough” he explores the frustrations that come with dreaming big and faith needed for success:

“I tried to find my way through life but life did not find me Pieces of a broken man enslaved in chains and can’t be free Seems my whole life span a lie All this pain held deep inside It seems I fail the more I try Like this is hell, I don’t know why All my life I’ve been denied You can’t count these tears I’ve cried I just want to run and hide But giving up conflicts with pride I just want to touch the sky Get away, I’m so high Reach my dreams before I die Spread my wings so I can fly”

“Psycho, Psycho, Psycho!” features Bizarre and King Gordy coming through for a horror core orgy:

Bizarre:“This ain’t Halloween but I got on a mask Pants ripped you can see the back of my ass Arms in a cast, two maxi pads But I’m still strong enough to kill a fag This ain’t funny this Bizarre and Prozak Beat me with a bat til I can’t feel my back I’m fucking insane, I need medication Preaching to the congregation about masturbation”

Yet, when Twista comes through on “Why???” he even puts his Chi-City murder raps on hold to deliver this message:

Twista:“Could you tell me why he would ever show mercy these days Just look at the world, we be cursing the earth with these plagues Sometimes I feel evil as if it’s the birth of the worst and the earth needs emergency surgery all of this hurt can be rage Turn us into demons that’s screaming I’m dreaming that even the devil was special before he had fallen from grace Why do we murder? But God won’t abandon his children even though his babies will bust a 380 all in your face”

Cypress Hill shows up for a funky smoker’s anthem on “Living In The Fog,” but if you pay close attention to “Drugs” you’ll see Prozak isn’t exactly pro-drugs as he condemns drugs and the dark effects of addiction. I could go on and on with the conflicting views, songs, and thoughts on “Tales From The Sick.”